Big guns flex muscles in Pick n Pay Gold Cup openers

The Pick n Pay Gold Cup got off to a stirring start last weekend, with post-hooter drama and a couple of nail-biting, one-point wins headlining the opening Round of 32 of the ‘FA Cup’ of South African club rugby.

The country’s pre-eminent knockout championship for non-university clubs – which is sponsored by Pick n Pay for the second time as part of a four-year agreement that includes becoming Tier 1 sponsors of the world champion Springboks – is also supported by Northam Platinum, whose commitment to community aligns with the grassroots spirit of the Pick n Pay Gold Cup.

In the North section, defending champions Sanlam Naka Bulls, who are aiming for an unprecedented fourth successive crown, had to dig deep to see off Cape Town wildcards SK Walmers 43-36 in a 12-try thriller in Pretoria.

Perennial title contenders Northam Rhinos (Limpopo) got their campaign off to an impressive start when they put 60 points on Nelspruit (Pumas), while mining giant Northam Platinum’s other club, Wolves, overcame a spirited and young Pirates (Lions) 44-17 in Hartbeespoort.

There were also impressive wins on the road for dark horses Centurion (Bulls) and Brakpan (Valke), over Griffons top dogs Welkom and the Bulls’ number-one ranked side, Grizzlies, respectively.

But the real drama was reserved for the West Rand and the Lowveld. The Lions’ number-one side, Randfontein, had to come from behind to pip gold miners Sibanye-Stillwater (Leopards) 26-25 courtesy of a 79th-minute penalty try, while White River overcame an heroic comeback from Louis Trichardt to win 42-39 in a bruising, see-sawing match that produced 11 tries.

The encounter was a superb advertisement for platteland rugby, with two highly physical packs going at each other for 80 minutes and a number of talented outside backs taking full advantage of the free-flowing nature of the contest.

In the South section, there were big home wins for 2025 Gold Cup runners up Villager (Western Province) as well as the two clubs the Capetonians saw off in last year’s semifinals and quarterfinals respectively, namely College Rovers (KZN) and Gardens (Eastern Province).

Boland’s Roses United made a statement of their own with an impressive, seven-try away win in the Garden Route over SWD’s top-ranked side, Groot-Brakrivier.

Former Gold Cup winners, Durbanville-Bellville, who claimed the 2015 title against all odds in Rustenburg after having had to win an exhausting repechage tournament to become the final qualifier, displayed their championship class with a hard-fought away 38-24 win over East London Police (Border) that saw fullback Grant Hermanus contribute 23 points.

The tournament’s other ‘Bobbies’ outfit, Bloemfontein Police (Cheetahs), returned to winning ways on the national stage when they edged PE Harlequins by three points in the Free State capital, thanks to a 71st-minute try by lock Luhle Edwana and converted by replacement Ayanda Qinisa, but the real theatre was reserved for the Northern Cape and West Coast.

At the Sivos Stadium in Kathu, two-time former national champions Crusaders (KZN), coached by 2014 Gold Cup-winning coach and former Springbok fullback Hugh Reece-Edwards, pipped home side Sishen (Griquas) by a single point after a marathon journey that included a flight and a long-distance bus trip.

And in Saldanha Bay, there was post-hooter drama of the highest order when the Boland champions, who trailed by 10 points at the break against Evergreens (SWD), rallied and then slotted an 84th-minute penalty goal courtesy of left wing, Wilton Hoogbaard, to see off a determined Pacaltsdorp side 32-30.

This weekend’s Round of 16 promises even more fireworks, with matches taking place as far afield as the mining heartlands of Limpopo, the Mother City, Gauteng’s East Rand, Nelson Mandela Bay and the Cape Winelands.

ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

NORTH SECTION:

White River 42 (27) Louis Trichardt 39 (10)

Vereeniging 105 (43) Bethlehem Oud-Skoliere 3 (3)

Welkom 21 (7) Centurion 49 (28)

Northam Wolves 44 (29) Pirates 17 (7)

Randfontein 26 (7) Sibanye-Stillwater 25 (10)

Northam Rhinos 62 (36) Nelspruit 7 (7)

Grizzlies 16 (9) Brakpan 25 (17)

Naka Bulls 43 (24) SK Walmers 36 (10)

SOUTH SECTION:

East London Police 24 (10) Durbanville-Bellville 38 (14)